Spirits of the Earth: The Complete Series: (A Post-Apocalyptic Series Box Set: Books 1-3) by Milo Fowler (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Mass abortion would lead to their mass extinction.

Victoria cringes back from me without breaking our physical link. There is no denying that she has read my thoughts, and they repulse her.

“Has Cain nothing more to say?” Luther glances at the warriors behind Vincent who shuffle their feet, impatient and agitated. Samson adjusts his stance, prepared to throw himself in front of Luther the moment any shooting starts. “I know our peoples do not share the same beliefs, but we are discussing our very survival. If we do not work together, we will be no match for the UW troops when they pour upon your shores.”

Vincent nods at length. “Gaia has told us the same,” he relays my words. “She desires that we join forces with you and your people.” He pauses a moment to let that sink in. “So we will do as you ask. Lord Cain will arrive the day after tomorrow, along with every fighting man and woman from our tribes. Until then, our warriors here will not interfere with you or the UW spies. We ask only that you provide us with shelter from the sun in the interim. Providing that you have the space available.”

Luther’s eyes appear to glisten in the moonlight. “Of course. We have more than enough room for you.” He opens his arms wide in a broad gesture of welcome. Samson, on the other hand, stares down at my people, speechless. Perhaps he did not foresee such a peaceful outcome, and he is disappointed there will be no fighting. “You look hungry. Join us inside, please.”

I cannot help but sneer at the look on Luther’s face, as eager as one whose fervent prayers have finally been answered. He’s begged for months to have our people join together as one. Now he will have his way.

And I will play along until we reach Eden. Then my warriors will be given their orders: Find the incubation units and disable them. Every last one.

Victoria pulls away from me, breaking our link and shattering my view of the warriors climbing the foothills to meet Luther and Samson. I scowl in the dim light of the bedchamber as she gathers her clothing and pulls it on, covering her nakedness in haste.

“I am not through with you.” I grab hold of her wrist as she rises from the bed.

She casts a cold gaze upon me. “But I am through with you, Cain. I will not be party to what you have planned. It is pure evil.”

I scoff, pretending she can’t possibly know what I am planning. “Luther and I finally decide to bury the hatchet, and you—”

“Don’t you dare try to deceive me.” She wrenches her arm free. If anything, she has only grown stronger during her pregnancy. “I know your thoughts as if they are my own. They disgust me. You disgust me.”

“You would dare speak to me like this? After all I have done for you? I made you my wife, for Gaia’s sake!” An honor in and of itself.

“You will bring the full wrath of the United World down upon us. How can this be what Gaia wants? You killed one of their soldiers, and now you want to slay innocent children?” She draws back toward the door, her face rippling with revulsion. “What have you become?” She grabs for the wheel on the door and spins it with one downward stroke.

I am on my feet in a split-second, slamming the door shut with a resounding clang as soon as she heaves it open. I stiff-arm it in place, the muscles in my arm tightening against her futile efforts. I take her throat in one hand and squeeze until her eyes bulge, straining bloodshot in their sockets.

But she does not struggle. She stares right back at me.

“Kill me,” she rasps. “Kill us both. I don’t want this child of ours to see the world you’ll make for him.”

A male child. This is good news—if true. “How do I know it is even mine?” I spit into her face.

“You don’t.” Her gaze holds a scornful smile.

I slam the back of her head against the door and catch her limp body in my arms as she drops, unconscious. With a low curse, I carry her to the bed and toss her onto her back like a corpse on a funeral pyre. Then I get dressed, making sure to retrieve the knife she threatened to use on herself. After a quick survey of the room for any other weapons, I prepare to leave.

Yet I linger, my hand resting on the door as I glance back at the bed. Here Lady Victoria will remain locked inside until I return, whenever that may be. I will take every fighting man and woman among the tribes with me to Luther’s Homeplace. By the time Victoria is able to summon any of the other pregnant women or older ones left behind in order to spread her lies about my plans, my warriors and I will already be well on our way to Eden. With Luther’s people and the UW spies.

One big happy family.

I bolt the door shut behind me and stride the length of the corridor toward the nearest exterior hatch.

“Lord Cain!” salutes the young sentry waiting outside.

“Summon the chieftains.” I leave the hatch to swing shut and draw in a deep breath of cool night air. Starlit heavens soar above with pinpricks of light in the deep black, but they will be visible for only a few hours more. Dawn approaches. “Have each of them bring their strongest warriors, fully armed.”

“Yes, my lord—but our fastest warriors have already—”

“Did you hear me say the fastest?” Of course they are already gone, led by Vincent and Markus. All who remain are without the blessing of superhuman speed. “I said the strongest. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Yes, m’lord.”

“Arm yourself while you’re at it. You and the other guards will be joining us.”

He stares mutely for a moment. “Y-yes, Lord